© MSA Understanding the New ASTM F Standard for Personal Climbing Equipment MSA WebCast February 21, 2006 Presented by: Joseph Feldstein Manager Technical Services Mine Safety Appliances Company

© MSA A Review of the New Standard n What we will cover: u Scope of the Standard u Who Needs to Know and How to Use u Equipment Specifications u Equipment Testing u Applications for the New Standard u Role of Third Party Certification u MSA Products n Question and Answer Period

© MSA ASTM F Scope of the Standard n Product Specifications u Pole & Tree Climbers u Climber Straps u Body Belts u Positioning Straps u Full Body Harnesses u Shock Absorbing Lanyards

© MSA ASTM F Scope of the Standard n Acceptance Test Procedures u Material Properties u Strength Testing n Performance Criteria u Arc Resistance u Full Body Harnesses u Shock Absorbing Lanyards

© MSA ASTM F Who Needs to Know About This Standard? n Affected Industries u Electrical Power Generation and Distribution u Telecom and Broadcast Industry u Tree Trimmers Wherever workers are exposed to hazards of falls while in proximity to energized electrical sources

© MSA ASTM F Who Needs to Know About This Standard? n Personnel u Safety Directors and Supervisors u Engineering Professionals u Purchasing Managers u At-Risk Workers Not necessarily limited to climbers, also refers to personal protective equipment (PPE) used in aerial lifts

© MSA ASTM F How to Use This Standard n To Specify Equipment u “Ordering Information” included with each product category n To Verify Compliance u Marking requirements identified for each product covered in the standard n How to Order the Standard u Contact ASTM website – u Contact ASTM customer service –

© MSA Product Specifications n Pole & Tree Climbers n Climber Straps n Body Belts n Positioning Straps n Full Body Harnesses n Shock Absorbing Lanyards

© MSA Pole and Tree Climbers n Classification n Sizes n Materials & Properties n Processing n Design n Finish n Inspection, Marking & Testing

© MSA Body Belts n Classification n Sizes n Material & Properties n Design n Test Methods

© MSA Positioning Straps n Sizes n Materials & Properties n Hardware n Design n Finish n Test Methods n Inspection, Marking and Testing

© MSA Full Body Harnesses n Classification u Type A – full body u Type B – full body with Belt n Sizes u Short, Regular, Tall and Extra Tall n Materials u Webbing 7,000 lbf minimum strength n ANSI Z359.1

© MSA Shock Absorbing Lanyards n Classification u Type A – separation of woven material u Type B – stretching of woven material n Sizes u Minimum lengths n Connectors u Locking snaphooks or carabiners u Sewn fiber loops

© MSA Product Testing: Harnesses and Shock Absorbing Lanyards n Electric Arc Exposure Testing u ASTM F1958/F 1958M n Post Arc-Exposure Testing u ANSI Z359.1 Fall Arrest Components u Dynamic Drop Test Testing confirms that the equipment will continue to function after exposure to an electric arc flash of very high intensity

© MSA Electric Arc Performance n Test Method ASTM F 1958/ F 1958M “Standard Test Method for Determining the Ignitability of Non-Flame-Resistant materials for Clothing by Electric Arc Exposure Method Using Mannequins” n Relevance to Fall Protection PPE u Worn over outerwear u Protection against flame and melting

© MSA Electric Arc Testing n Harnesses placed on mannequins as normally worn n Six test samples u 3 exposed on the front u 3 exposed on the back n Exposed to an intense electric arc flash with a thermal energy transfer of 40 cal/cm 2 (plus or minus 5 cal/cm 2)

© MSA Electric Arc Test - Example of Test Non-Compliance n Video of actual testing conducted at Kinetrics High Voltage Test Lab, QC, Canada n Observe explosive intensity of arc flash n Test Criteria: u No electric arc ignition u No melting or dripping u No greater than 5 s of afterflame (click to play video)

© MSA Electric Arc Test – Example of Successful Test n Test Criteria: u No electric arc ignition u No melting or dripping u No greater than 5 s of afterflame n Harness in this example does not support an afterflame and webbing does not melt (click to play video)

© MSA Drop Testing n Performed as soon as possible after electric arc test n For Harnesses: u 6 ft free-fall distance with 220 lb rigid test torso u Head-first and feet-first drops n For Lanyards: u 6 ft free-fall distance with 220 lb rigid test mass u 1800 lbf maximum arrest force u 42 in maximum elongation

© MSA Value Added by the New Standard n Improved methods for evaluating fall protection equipment used in an electrical hazards environment n Additional assurance that equipment will function to arrest a fall after thermal shock of a high-energy arc flash

© MSA Applications for Equipment Certified to ASTM F n Utility linesmen n Construction workers exposed to energized electrical sources n Maintenance and repair personnel working in electrical vaults n Tree trimmers working in proximity to high voltage power lines

© MSA Importance of Third Party Certification n Independent testing and certification of equipment to the standard n Validation of manufacturer’s quality management system n Regular verification testing to assure ongoing compliance n Provisions for recall in the event of non-compliance

© MSA MSA Products Meeting the ASTM F Standard n MSA ArcSafe™ Full Body Harnesses and Shock Absorbing Lanyards n Certified by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) n Contact your local MSA distributor or visit the MSA website at:

© MSA QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD For further information, contact: Joseph Feldstein MSA Fall Protection 2250 South Tejon Street Englewood, CO Ph: (303) Fax: (303) Thank you for your participation!